Lock for meter box covers



Dec. 27, 1932. L. J. TAYLOR Y LOOK FOR METER ox COVERS Filed March 24, 1931 IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STTES PATENT OFFEQE LLOYD J'. TAYLOR, OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO TAYLOR FOUNDRY COMPANY rue,

WISE-ETA FALLS, TEXAS COVERS This invention relates. to meter boxes and is has particular reference to new and useful improvements in lock covers therefor and the principal object of the invention resides in a lock for cover for meter boxes and the like having the maximum simplicity and consequent l w manufacturing cost.

Another objectof the invention resides in the provision of an improved gravity locking arrangement of such design that the lid proper will require no reinforcin means whatsoever and further, a fulcrum diametrically opposite the lock of such peculiar design as to hold the cover in raised position,

- yet allowin the cover to fall into locked position and be so locked without the aid of the key.

Still another object of the invention resides in the fact that the improved lock cover may be produced in its complete form with but a single moving element and requires no springs or other analogous elements to aid in its operation.

With the foregoing objects as paramount,

' the invention has particular reference to its salient features of construction and arrangement of parts which will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the underside of the improved meter box cover.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section showing the improved fulcrum.

Figure 4 is another perspective view, fragmentarily showing the cover and flange and illustrating in detail the relationship between the gravity locking element and key, and

Flgure 5 is a detail view showing the gravity locking element in solid lines in operative position and depicting the same in dotted lines in the position to which it is moved by the key.

through the aperture in the lugs 2 and either embedded in the concrete fabrication of the meter box or afixed in some suitable manner to the metal type of box so that the flange 1 is movable relative to the box.

The flange 1 is annularly recessed to provide a seat for the disc-like lid or cover 3 wiich as apparent in Figures 2 and 3 has a projection 4 integral therewith, which projection is received in a recess a in the flange 1 and is bifurcated as at b to receive a pin 5.

A slot Z) is of such peculiar shape that when the lid 3 is raised, it will lie on an inclined plane and will thus be kept from falling.

Referring now to the means by which the lid or cover 3 is held in locked relationship vith the flange 1, it will be noted that a pair of cars 6 are integral with and depend from the underside of the lid 3. These ears or lugs (i are joined together by an intermediate web 7', the purpose of which is apparent in Figure 5 and will be again referred to presently. The gravity locking element 8 has a lobe 0 which normally lies in the position shown in solid lines in Figure 5 and assumes this position by reason of the weighted portion defining the lobe c. The member 8 is pivotally mounted on the pin 9 extending through the ends of the ears or lugs 6 so that the member may be rocked to and fro to move the member into and out of locked position as shown in Figure 5.

Also integral with the gravity locking member 8 is a. cam surface 10, which is offset relative to the weighted lobe 0 yet is an integral part of the said member 8. It is against this cam surface 10 that the lug 11 of the key 12 impinges and the peculiar shape of the cam sur face 10 is such that frictional rotation of the key lug 11 against the curved surface of the cam 10 will function to displace the lobe o from its position under the shoulder (Z of the flange 1, and bring the same to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. The relative position of the lug 11 of the key 12 is also shown in dotted lines in this figure.

Thus the member 8 is moved to unlocked position by manipulatingthe key 12 to actuate the lug 11 which is insertable through a correspondingly shaped aperture 13 in the cover 3, beneath which is a ward or box 14. The cover 3 may then be raised on the pivot 5 diametrically opposite the lock where it may rest at an incline until a reading or the meter is taken, whereupon the cover may then be dropped again to its position shown and since the lug 0 is of greater weight than the lower portion of the locking member 8, it will fall outward and due to the annular face 6 of the member 8, it will readily slide over the shoulder (Z of the flange 1 and assume the locked position shown in Figure '5 in solid lines until the key peat the operation. 7

As referred to vpreviously, a web 7 joining the lugs 6, as clearly shown inFigure 5 is enga -ed by portion of the cam 10, thus affording "a stop to limit the outward movement of the'weighted portion 0 of the locking member 8. Due to the presence of the stop 7, the gravity locking member is Constrained to lie in a predetermined plane so that when the lug 11 of the key 12 is brought into relative contact with the'cam 10, there will be no binding action and the unlocking operation may be carried out with the same ease and madness in all cases. lVhen the lug 11 is rotated against the'cam 10, the lobe 0 'orweighted'porti'onof the member8'is moved towardth'e key and is thus displaced from its position under the flange 1. It is particularly important to note that the elements of the combination with the ex ception' of the locking member-8 maybe cast in one operation, which is acdesideratum for economical 'construction "and further, since no ribs or other reinforcing meansaremequired, which isa further-aid in reducing the cost of production and this, together with the fact that but a single movable element is embodied in the' structure, produces not-only an economical construction, but one which will meet all requirements as to durability and ease in the performance andop'eration.

'Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of some modification and such inodi'fic'a tion as is considered withinthescope and meaning of the appen'dedclaim's is alsoconsidered within the spirit and'intent of themvention.

VVhat'is claimed is: I 1. A look for meter'box covers includinga weighted member carried by said cover and normallylying beneath the edge'of the support for said cover and a cam extending at right angles from said weighted member against which a 'key is urged to rock said weighted member toa position to escape the edge of said support to'effect're'moval of said cover from said flange.

2. A look for meter box covers including a support integral with the underside ofsaid oover compris'inga pair of dependin'gea'rs and a web intermediate the said ears, a stub shaft shaped to define a cam'axially pivoted 12 is again inserted to rebetween said ears and having a stop engaging the web between said ears, a weighted portion integral with said stub shaft normally reposing by gravity under the edge of the support for said cover whereby to maintain said stub shaft in position to present a surface against which a key bit may be rotated to move said weighted portion to disengage the cover from its support. a I

, 3. A look for meter box covers including a stub shaft defining a cam surface suspended below 'said'cover and having an integral weighted member normally extending beyond the edge of said cover by gravity, a stop also integral with said stub shaft to hold said weighted member in predetermined extended position and to hold the cam surface of said stub shaft in a po's1t'1on to receive the contact of the bit of a key rotate d thereagainst wherei by to move said weighte d'portion within the diameter of said cover.

4. A look for meter box covers including'a pair'of ears integral withand depending from said cover adjacent its edge and having an intermediate web defininga stop, a stub shaft having its ends pivoted in apertures in said ears and having a body shaped to produce a gradualslope from one end to the other,said shaft furtherhaving an appendant at right angles thereto and whose upper end is of greater weight than its lower end whereby to normally repose outside of the diameter of said cover preparatory to its withdrawal by an instrument frictionally moved against the'sl'op'e of saidbody.

5. A lock'for meter box 'covers including a stub shaft having abody shaped'to definea gradual slope from one end to the other and further having an appendaint integral therewith whoseaxis is at right angles to theaxis of said shaftwhereby its upper end will normally lie beyond the diameter of said cover, preparatory to its withdrawal byakey moved against the slope of said body.

In testimony whereof'I ailix' my signature.

LLOYD J. TAYLOR.

lOQ 

